About Jesus and the Father. About who we are!

Dear brothers and sisters,

The Scripture does not say: "NO ONE SHALL REACH THE FATHER UNLESS HE PASSES THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.'' 

The Scripture says: "Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

The text doesn't say "passes through Jesus." LOOK: Jesus didn't say "no one goes to the Father"! He said "NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER, except through me"  Jesus did not mean to go to the Father, but to COME to the Father.

Why? JESUS AND THE FATHER ARE ONE! 

Let us look at this very attentively. Even the disciples did not understand when Jesus said those words.

Understanding this is of the most importance! Who does not understand these words DO NOT KNOW JESUS INDEED. Jesus said that plainly.

“If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” 

Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” 

(My God Father, how difficult is for people to understand what you are saying. Reveal it to each of my brothers and sisters. They are stuck with heaven, rewards, they think you do not rule now the universe, the earth, everything and everyone!")

Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? 

Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? 

The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 

Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 

(Children of God don't do today the works like Jesus even greater works than Him because they don't accept the ONENESS of GOD and the ONENESS of God with us. They think God is in heaven, Jesus is in heaven and we are on our own. Even worst, they think that the Holy Spirit is with us, but they don't get it the ONENESS of the Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit. They follow a humane logic and they don't get the heavenly revelation that GOD IS ONE!")

And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” John 14:7-14 NIV

One again, Dr Taylor brings a thought on leadership and some of you brings "religious Christian stuff." I am not rebuking anyone for doing so! I am glad you did! But unless you get intimate with Jesus and do not repeat what you have learnt without checking out for yourselves what the Holy Spirit really says you will get stuck with religious concepts for the rest of your lives that are not God's Word. 

Jesus promises and gives eternal life. GOD is eternal life. Before the world was created there was no heaven, no Earth, nothing. God did not have a place to be. HE WAS! He is! He will be forever! 

In the beginning there was GOD! And God became flesh! John chapter 1 tells us how. It is not the Son who became Flesh, it is not a second person of the Trinity (I am using a word that is not even biblical) who became human. It is GOD, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit who became flesh!

God reveals Himself as the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, but don't look to the Father to see God in His fulness though the Father is God in fulness, or don't even look to the Holy Spirit to see God in His fulness though the Holy Spirit is God fully. Look at Jesus!

“My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and  united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.” Colossians 2:2-3, 9-10

And don't think in terms of rewards, of something He will give us. We have Him. Jesus is our greatest and full reward. 

And don't think in a place to be living in eternity. Look! We are God's Body! We are God's Temple! We are God's Building! We are God's House. And I could go on, but for your sake I will conclude with this.

We will be like God is! We already are! “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.” 1 John 4:17.

Understand you alone are not God's body, temple, building, house. You alone are not as He is. We are! We are ONE!

I understand that the whole teaching of Jesus is to be seen as a whole and not in parts. Yes, we see in parts, as it is taught to us, step by step, word by word, but it is like a dragnet that is Bringing Everything in one only harvest. 

When Jesus talks about the Father He is revealing the Father. When He talks about the Holy Spirit He is revealing the Holy Spirit. And when He reveals Himself saying I AM... I AM... The Father, the Holy Spirit is revealing Jesus. See them as ONE as God is ONE and you will not miss any revelation. 

"For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” 1 Corinthians 13:12

The time has come to shift from knowing who you are in Christ to know who Christ is in you.

Then shall I know even as also I am known. How can this be? Surprise!

JSalum

Dr. JSalum

Five Strategies of Exceptional Leaders. Dr. Paul Taylor

I would like to start a short training on "Five Strategies of Exceptional Leaders."  

Remember one of the purposes of REAL is to develop our leadership skills.  

As John Maxwell has said, "Everything rises and falls with leadership."  WE ARE ALL LEADERS!  The question is "What kind of leader are you?"

"My grandfather once told me that there were two kinds of people: those who do the work and those who take the credit.  He told me to try to be in the first group.  There is much less competion."

• Indira Gandhi.

There was a survey asked to many businessmen about leadership qualities and characteristics.  They were asked to order what they felt were the most important leadership qualities.  Here is the list from 1 to 10.

1. Honesty   83%

2.  Competent   67%

3.  Forward looking or having vision 62%

4.  Inspiring   58%

5.  Intelligent   43%

6. Fair Minded   40%

7.  Broad Minded (open to new things) 37%

8.  Straightforward 34%

9.  Imaginative 34%

10. Dependable 33%

Isn’t it interesting that the number one quality of a businessperson is honesty!  We hear all the time about dishonest business people.  Many believe that you have to be dishonest to succeed in business.  Do you?  Is that really the kind of person you want to be?  High School students in the United States were asked if they believed they needed to lie, cheat and steal to be successful.  Over half of them responded yes!  This is why people do not trust people today, especially in business.  The successful businesses are built on honesty, integrity and character!

Here are some quotes on leadership.

“The true measurement of leadership is influence; nothing more, nothing less.” John Maxwell

“Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character.  But if you must be without one, be without strategy.” General Norman Schwarzkopf:  United States General

“Leadership is letting go in the doing, but not letting go in the guiding.” Dave Thomas; Chairman and Founder of Wendy’s

“Leadership is the art of accomplishing more than the science of management says is possible.” Colin Powell

“Leadership is the ability to take people beyond their natural skills to the fulfillment of dreams.” Rich Marshall

“There go my people and I must catch them for I am their leader.” Gandhi

“Leadership is the ability to inspire confidence, determine direction and to serve with character and integrity.” ROI Leadership focus group

It is now your turn.  I want you to take a few minutes and write your own definition of leadership.

Leadership is ……

Please send your definitions to Dr. Josimar and to Dr. Taylor!

Acceptable vs. Exceptional Leadership

One of the biggest problems that we face in the business world is complacency.  People become satisfied very easily with the status quo, mediocrity!

The question is “Will you be satisfied with acceptable leadership or will you push to excel?”  

We should never be satisfied with mediocrity.  

I once preached a message entitled “God hates vanilla!”  Vanilla ice cream is acceptable, but God wants exceptional leaders.

Here are the differences between:

Acceptable Leaders Exceptional Leaders

1.  Have convictions Live convictions

2.  Career focused Calling focused

(it’s all about me) (it’s all about the cause)

3.  Understand Vision Understand the purpose

and Mission behind vision nd mission

4.  Is motivated Is motivated

by activity/results by shared vision

5.  Motivates others minds Motivates others hearts

6.  Operates within the rules Operates with passion towards vision and

and regulations mission

7.  Core beliefs are situational Core beliefs are integrated in life and work

I hope that you can see the difference between the two kinds of leaders.  

One is being a certain kind of person because of his job.  

The other is that person and

they excel at their job because of it.

There are 5 levels of leadership to become an Exceptional Leader.

Exceptional Leader

Level 5

Effective Leader

Level 4

Competent Leader

Level 3

Contributing Team Member

Level 2

Highly Capable Individual

Level 1

Level 5: Exceptional Leader

They are ambitious first and foremost for the cause, the movement, the mission, the

work---not themselves---and have the will to do whatever it takes to make good on

that ambition.

Level 4: Effective Leader

Catalyzes commitment to and vigorous pursuit of a clear and compelling vision,

stimulating higher performance standards.

Level 3: Competent Manager

Organizes people and resource toward the effective and efficient pursuit of

predetermined objectives.

Level 2: Contributing Team Member

Contributes individual capabilities to the achievement of group objectives, and

works effectively with others in a group setting.

Level 1: Highly Capable Individual

Makes productive contributions through talent, knowledge, skills and good work habits.

Which level would you be on at this time in your life?  

We all need to grow in the

area of leadership.  

Are you growing?  Are you stuck?

From the above chart, are you acceptable or exceptional?  

REAL is about exceptional leaders who are visionary

leaders understanding the purpose and the cause!

We will continue this training after you have responded to my questions.

This material is a part of ROI Leadership, Inc. 2006 Developing people, building business

I have had the pleasure of working with this group in the past and use the material to train leaders.

Keep believing for the impossible,

Dr. Taylor

GRACE QUIZ - 2/12 (B) Do God’s children struggle with sin because of their old self within? JSalum

2/12 - (B) -  Do God’s children struggle with sin because of their old self within? JSalum

2 - What happened to our sins with the blood of Jesus

“The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29 

Jesus takes away the sin means Jesus removes the sin. 

“the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation (a sacrifice of atonement) by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”

Romans 3:22-26 

Propitiation "speaks of mending the relationship with that someone who's angry by something you did. This brings out a new dimension that someone, somewhere is angry. And in the context of the Bible, 'propitiation' paints a clear picture that God is angry with us. Why? Sin. Sin absolutely repulses God. Sin absolutely disgraces God's holy name. In fact, from Rom 3:23 (look above), sin is to “fall short of God's glory”. Therefore, angry is too... mild a word to begin describing God's attitude toward sin. Rather, the word 'Wrath' is used to describe this strong, holy, divine anger that God has toward sin. Therefore, ‘Propitiation’ brings forth the point that God’s wrath is against all man because of how they have desecrated his glory. And God's holiness, justice and righteousness disallows sin to be let off scot-free.... In a nutshell, this is propitiation: God averting his wrath toward man through the death of His Son." (Adrian Ow)

What happened is the by His blood Jesuscovered all our sins. His blood paid for all our transgressions, past, present and future. We do not have to struggle with our sin within us, because the sin has no more power of condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. A son of God, born from God, who received the power to become son of God will never be condemned by his sins. They already are all forgiven. It doesn't mean a son of God will remain sinning, to live in continuing sinful practices. Here you must understand that if someone continue to live in sin was never born from God.

 “What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. 

David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

"Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”

Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.

Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.””

Romans 4:3-8, 16, 18 NIV

“Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.” 1 John 3:7-10 

We were justified by faith once for all, because Jesus offered his blood once for all.

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.

Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” Romans 5:1-2, 9-11 NIV

We were saved by grace and we now stand also by Grace. We confess our sins if we sin to commune of this Grace in which we stand. People who do not confess their sins are not sons of God, but they remain in darkness. 

“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.” 1 John 1:5-10 

Note that in both chapters 1 and 3 of I John and Romans 5 we are reminded that the greatest test of our justification by faith is our relationship with our neighbors. It is the love for God and for one another the greatest fruit of our reconciled relationship with God. It is not about simply not committing such sins, but mostly if we live our brothers and sisters.

Here are the scriptures to attest the sufficiency of the blood of Jesus:

 “But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.

For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence.

Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.

so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”

Hebrews 9:11-15, 24, 26, 28 

Why then God's children do not struggle with sin within?

“For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means!

You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.” Romans 6:5-9, 11-15, 18, 22 NIV

GRACE QUIZ - 2/12 (A) Do God’s children struggle with sin because of their old self within? JSalum

2/12 - Do God’s children struggle with sin because of their old self within?  JSalum

A - There is sin and there are sins. 

"Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.” Romans 7:16-17 ESV

“Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law.” Romans 5:12-13 ESV

Disobedience was not the first sin of man. By the disobedience of one man many were made sinners. Sin came into the world through one man. Which sin is this? 

“For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.” Romans 5:19 ESV

When I read Gênesis 3 I am convinced this verse has a answer for this question: "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."” Genesis 3:5 ESV

Those words contain a double lie from the devil that many still believe today. First, man and woman were already like God. Second, God does not know good and evil.  

The verb "yodeah" means to experience, to cohabit, to acquaint, to be familiar with. God does not know evil and good. God is Light. It is impossible for Light to be aware of darkness. God is good. He doesn't know good.

“Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over... every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:26-27 ESV

Both man and woman were called Adam. Eve was named Eve by Adam only after they have lost their likeness of God. They were one, created in the image and likeness of God. 

“But did He not make them one, Having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring." Malachi 2:15 NKJV

"This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.” Genesis 5:1-2 KJV

The eternal purpose of God for men and women is this: "“For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” Romans 8:29 ESV

Adam, man and woman were like God. There was the Tree of Life. And the tree of good and evil. Men were tempted not to be like God, they were tempted to become God by a lie. 

God always wanted to be like man without ceasing to be God. That is why God became flesh, He became man, but continued to be God. 

Men wanted to be God and cease to be man. When Adam and the woman desired to eat the tree of good and evil they became evil, and sin came into the world. They wanted to be independent. Independence is not of the nature of God. 

Man and woman became a tree of good and evil, they became sin and now they bear fruits, sins, of all kinds. The tree (sin) produces fruits (sins). 

“And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Genesis 2:9, 16-17 KJV

The only way for men to be restored his image and likeness of God was Jesus who knew no sin became sin to make men the righteousness of God. 

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

We were trees of knowledge of good and evil, who experienced sin and evil, but in Jesus we become tree of life. 

“He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” Psalms 1:3 ESV

"that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.” Isaiah 61:3 ESV

“So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.”

Matthew 7:17-18 ESV

To be continued...

Drinking or not drinking wine!

Drinking or not drinking wine!

Interesting! Wine, my brothers, since Noah time, who planted a vineyard and from the grapes made wine always made people drunk if they drank much! 

I am amazed at the discussion about what you can do and what you can't do is still going on among believers around the world.

Life with Jesus is not made by rules, regulations and laws. You don't need to tell someone who is filled with the Holy Spirit to stop getting drunk with wine! That is not their issue! Though I know many people filled with the Holy Spirit that drink wine and don't get drunk! Like Jesus who drank wine and not just drank but Made 800 liters of wine in a wedding where people were already very drunk!

Let me repeat! Wine is wine, 5%, 8%, 11% or port wine with more than 23% alcoholic content make people get drunk! If they drink to much! 

Jesus drank wine! We don't know the alcohol content of the wine He drank, but it had alcohol content for sure, as all types of wines. Wine is not grape juice! 

Read these verses! What makes people sin besides getting drunk is when you offend your brothers and sisters by eating or drinking something that offend them, or make them stumble! 

If I come to Burundi I would probably never had a cup of wine with anybody because my brothers and sisters there think that it is a sin! Why would I do that offending them? 

And also what it is not wise is to make a whole teaching about this and oppress people with it! People don't drink wine but gossip. People don't drink wine, but hate one another. What is the point of emphasizing forbidden food and drinks if people have more serious character problems?   

To follow Jesus is not measured by what you eat or by what you drink, but by your freedom in doing what pleases both of you! 

“What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”

“Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.””

Matthew 15:11, 17-20

“Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters.

The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them.

You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.

If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval. Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall. So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves.”

Romans 14:1, 3, 10, 15-22

Here it is:

““To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: “ ‘We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ For John came neither eating nor drinking wine, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking wine, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.””

Matthew 11:16-19

JSalum

Are you serving God? Really?

"People say 'I serve God. How do you serve God? Singing songs? Please, God already has all the world's birds singing to Him. Tithing and offering? He owns all the gold and silver. Why he would need your paper money? You serve God when you serve the least of his children. in other words you never serve God directly, unless you do serving others." JSalum

Thoughts of making a decision

“Who, then, are those who fear the Lord? He will instruct them in the ways they should choose.” Psalm 25:12

"Fear is the greatest internal enemy someone may have. Fear of the unknown, fear of the future, fear of failure, fear of being unable to work, fear of making a decision. Prudence is different of fear. Being prudent is to be wise. The wise always choose to fear the Lord instead of any other fear. As you fear the Lord and think what decision will glorify Him most He will always show you the way you should choose." JSalum

"When everyone is turning right maybe God wants you to turn left! Where everyone is heading to may not be where God is leading you to." JSalum.